138 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
in, and they afterwards got baked as hard as brick. Broccoli, Turnips, and 
other small seeds were sown three times here in May in the usual quarters; 
but none of the seed vegetated thickly enough to furnish a crop, and I had to 
depend on some sown on a warm border and daily watered. Tender vegetables, 
such as early Potatoes, Asparagus, and Kidney Beans, were cut down three 
times in the month, for even on the 30th 1° of frost was registered, and the 
Fern in the park was quite blackened in low situations. 
This May will have given many a check to those who are in # the practice of 
bedding-out too early, for they will see that nothing is gained by too early 
planting. In fact, the time will come when no summer-bedding plants will be 
put out before the beginning or middle of June by all gardeners who can find 
sufficient room to harden their stock off in sunken pits or sheltered places, 
and when they plant-out the beds will be so furnished that due effect will be 
given to flower gardens at once, without the risk of the plants being starved 
with cold in May. I had such glorious masses of colour this April and May 
from clumps of Silene pendula, Forget-me-nots, Aubrietias, Pansies, and other 
spring bedders, that I intend for the future to depend upon them more, and 
only bed-out the summer things when well hardened off and full of flower. 
Welbeck. William Tillery. 
AQUILEGIA ALPINA. 
The Alpine Columbine is a most beautiful hardy perennial, from 12 to 
18 inches high. It grows freely in any soil or situation, but does best in a 
sandy loam. It has very large purplish blue flowers with white centres. It 
is a very showy, striking object when in flower during May and June. It 
should be grown in all mixed borders. It is easily increased either by seeds 
or dividing the old roots. The seed should be sown in an open bed or border 
in August or September. In the spring following the plants will appear above 
ground; they should be kept clear of weeds. In May they should be trans¬ 
planted into beds at 9 or 10 inches distance every way. In the autumn they 
should be removed into the flower-borders, and in the following season they will 
flower beautifully. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
NOTES AT THE SHOWS. 
The Special Prize Show at South Kensington, on the 14th of June, though 
small in extent, was of a very interesting character. These “ special prizes ” 
were offered by certain gentlemen in order to bring out their “specialities.” 
The President of the Royal Horticultural Society offered four prizes, the first 
for “the best nine plants sent out in 1865,” which was awarded to Messrs. 
Yeitch, but which many thought should have gone t® Mr. W. Bull; the second 
for “the best nine plants sent out in 1864-5,” which was taken by Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Messrs. Yeitch being second; the third prize for “ thirty-six Roses, 
single trusses, including varieties sent out in 1864-5 ;” and the fourth for “ the 
best collection of Roses sent out in 1864-5.” I do not attempt to canvass the 
merits of the subjects that competed for the prizes for new plants. There is 
no lack of new plants—from far and near they come, and I almost fancy some¬ 
times the aim of our new-plant exhibitors seems to be, not who shall have the 
best, but who shall have the greatest quantity. I think also that while the 
really good flowering plants are few, fine-foliaged plants are plentiful, and cer¬ 
tainly many of them are very beautiful. 
The cut Roses were scarcely up to the mark. How could they be ? The 
